The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1887-06-23

county. fnll Of csnons and deep ehasrns
The stage remsined ai night At some raael
where The travellers took supper, aud were
Glad 10 rest In comfortable bed.
Ais ranch one night, IS We were sitlius
10 The cheerful light Of the hrepiace. tbs
conversation turned upon the bravery o
the Indians, some Of the passengers de
claring that the saysges possessed degree
Of courage closely bordering on heroism,
while others conteuded that anything like
true courage was unknown to them. Each
party gave incidents 10 the support Of iis
views, aud each person had something 70
say upon the subject, except our host the
rsnchman. who sat listening and smoking
his pipe, Al length be said, Gentlemen,
both agree aud disagree with yon. !
understand the Indian. and can speak with
some degree OF knowledge Of bis charscs
teristics and hsbiis After going through
the civil war | served two enlistments :
ten years--as private. corporal. aud SER
geant in the Seventh Cavalry, under Gen
eral Cnster.
was with Custer when he struck Black
Kettles band, on the Washita 10 '6s; ! was
with him in the Black Hills in "a, on the
Yellowstone in 20; aud when be died like
the hero be was 10 the battle OF Little Big
Horn, was with Reno on the other part
Of the field, besiesed by Sitting Bull, and
as near to death as | ever expect to be,
until the iinal bugle call comes,
can assure you, gentlemen, that The
Indian Is brave. sometimes superbly so,
but be ofteo seems to be an arrant coward.
He will run away from superior, or even
equal numbers. for he considers it poor
generalship TO fight when the odds are not
10 bis favor.
After dcirg you sll the damage he can,
he will not hesitate to run away. for the
possession OF the field OF battle is not with
him. as 1t is with u.s. point of honor and
a proof Of victory.
Is "cornered," when he is forced to fight
superior numbers, when he's trying to save
fallen friend from being scalped, or
when be is badly wounded, you will find
in him degree Of courage anything but
pleasant for his Ossailant.
The closest call / ever had in all my
life, not even excepting that horrible day
with Reno, was on the expedition from
Fort Hayes to Fort Lyons in 1868, and |
then had an experience with the indians
that shall never forget.
Our command consisted Of twenty men,
under Lieutenant Barlow, young officer
who had been in service only little over
two years. but who was known as man
of good judgement, coolness and bravery
We left Fort Hayes and marched several
days without any incident worth mention
ing. until we were within days march
Of the Arkansas liver aud not very far
from our destination.
Late in the afternoon we saw several
Indians in the distance on our right, and
later, quite large mounted party, indians
also on cur left. 1t was evident that the
savages, perhaps in force, were in the
vicinity, and every man in the command
WAS on the alert. We had with us train
OF fifteen pack mules, and they, with our
horses, were enough OF prize to make an
Indian attack more than probable.
However, nothing more was seen Of the
Indians that day, and We went into camp
at sunset, hobbling and picketing our an
imals, and watching with anxiety for an
attack. We had reason to be anxious.
Oar force was small, and we had, more
over, been compelled TO make dry
camp" that is, there was no stream or
water Of any kind where we encamped,
and the only water we had was that re-
naming in our canteens.
You may be sure tina, careful watch
was kept that night Barlow knew his
business thoroughly, and putting his men
IN large buffalo wsllow, he had them
deepen it still more and throw up slight
breastwork OF earth around it. The fire
had been carefully extinguished, and the
night was one OF the darkest that have
ever seen.
We did not expect an attack before
morning, for The Indians have strange
superstitious fear of the dark, but we
knew very well that the first streaks OF
dawning light would bring danger, for
late dusk and early dawn are the fayorite
hours for Indian attacks.
All was quiet through the night. About
two o'clock 10 the morning | was relieved
from guard by the other sergeant, and,
after reporting 10 the lieutenant / lay
down 20 catch few wiuks Of sleep. MY
nap seemed very brief, aud was awakened
by one OF the men who shook me by the
shoulder, saying, Sergeant, get up; here's 5
business ahead, or I'm fool" 1t was
just early gray daylight but We could
see the lndians--a large band Of them
getting ready for dash upon us.
Every man in the camp was soon 10 his
place, ready TO repulse the enemy, while
Barlow. as cool as II he was on dress pa
rade, cautioned Us not to waste shot,
nor FIRE until he gave the signal
The redskins did not keep Ms long 10
suspense. Down they dashed At full speed
until within ride range. when they began
circling around us. yelling like fiendr,
while our animals began to snort with
fright. aud to ting violently At the picket
rores aud hobbies.
DSoon two Young braves made a dash
toward our stock. waving red blankets
and yelling like demons They KEEP, their
bodies on the far side Of their ponies, er-